Painting machine for shingles



Feb. 6, 1940. K. M. LEUTE ET AL 2,189,668

PAINTING MACHINE FOR SHINGLES Filed April 26, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q I m 4' g Q g a: l l I I W} I 'Q l i L 1 .55 {i is? I k l I: i :1 ij\ QQ' a W 4 Aft "Wu/e35 Iwvewivr ZfEI/TZMZe'uZe jfferberijlflawry 7 W, W

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4 Sheets-Sheet 2 K. M. LEUTE ET AL PAINTING MACHINE FOR SHINGLES Flled Aprll 26 1937 Feb. 6, 1940.

Feb. 6, 1940. K. M. LEUTE ET AL PAINTING MACHINE FOR SHINGLES Filed Api'il 26, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ZMLozvry g vrweys ji erber B 1 Feb. 6, 1940. K. M. LEUTE El AL PAINTING MACHINE FOR SHINGLES Filed April 26, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 G in!" Patented FeB. 6, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Karl M. Leutc and Herbert M. Lowry, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application April 26, 1937, Serial No. 138,968

1'7 Claims.

It is an object of this invention to provide a novel machine adapted to rapidly and thoroughly clean, paint and dry wooden shingles. Liquids, either with or without pigment, may be utilized in the machine, although it is particularly designed to perform the more diflicult painting operation on rough, porous and irregularly shaped surfaces.

A further object is to provide a machine of this class which utilizes paint or other coloring or preserving liquid economically while insuring adequate penetration and uniform, thorough coating of the surfaces.

Another object is to provide such a machine 5 with novel conveyors for courses of wood shingles, each course being equal in width to the courses of shingles in the bundles, and the shingle engaging members being so designed as to maintain the several shingles, irrespective of width and whether flat or warped, under control at all times and having associated therewith mechanism for successively removing all loose particles of sawdust and the like from the shingles, then thoroughly coating and impregnating them with the liquid, then drying them and finally delivering them in courses for immediate and .easy packing in bundles or containers.

Difficulties have heretofore been encountered in the automatic painting of wooden shingles because of their peculiar shape and lack of uniformity in width and porosity and because of v the fact that they are sometimes warped. Such shingles, as they are received from the mills, have sawdust, splinters and other particles adhering .35 to their surfaces in such quantities as to interfere'with the circulation of the paint in the machine and to result in rough and poorly finished surfaces where machine or automatic painting of the shingles has heretofore been attempted.

The machine of the present application eliminates these difficulties and maintains the shingles under complete and continuous control during the cleaning,- painting and drying operations in the machine.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of our improved machine;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view on'a larger 50 scale showing particularly the cleaning and painting mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal, vertical section through the portion of the machine shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a plan view showing the junction of 55 the conveyors for the painting and drying sections of the machine, a part of the drying chamber being shown in horizontal section;

Fig. 6 is acentral vertical section through the parts of the machine shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a cross section taken on the line 1-1 5 of Fig. 2 and illustrating particularly the paint circulating and supplying mechanism;

Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 9 is a plan view showing in detail one of 10 the shingle gripping flights for the drier section, and

Fig. 10 is a cross section taken on the line Ill-l 0 of Fig. 9.

Receiving conveyor 15 At one end of the machine a horizontal shaft H is journaled in a suitable frame to support a pair of sprocket wheels upon which a pair of endless chains l2 are trained. These chains extend in parallel relation to each other along op- 20 posite side edges of a supporting plate l3 for the shingles. This plate extends substantially horizontally and has a smooth upper surface upon which the courses of shingles l4 are conveyed. by bars l5 which are secured to the chains 12 at 25 suitable intervals to carry the successive courses of shingles in spaced relation to each other. The bars I5 lie flat on the plate l3 to push the courses of shingles ahead of them.

A feed table I6 is mounted above the receiving end of the plate l3 to support bundles of shingles in convenient position so that the successive courses may be placed on the plate l3 in front of the bars IS. The thicker, butt ends of the shingles face the bars IS. The chains i2 run along the inner surfaces of side bars lland these bars extend in parallel'relation to each other; being supported on legs I8 at suitable intervals. Connecting these side bars and supporting the plate l3 are angle bars l9 (Figs. 4 and 8). The upper run of each chain l2 extends from the receiving end of the plate Hi to a sprocket wheel 20 fixed on a drive shaft 2| (Figs..5 and 6). As shown in Figs. 1 and. 4, the shaft 2| is driven 5 through a suitable connection with a motor 22. 4 The return run l2a of each of the chains l2-is supported and guided on wheels 23 and 24.

Sawdust removing mechanism As best shownin Figs. 3 and 4, each course of shingles in engagement with one of the conveyor bars l5 is passed between rotary brushes 25 and 26 which respectively engage the top and bottom surfaces of the shingles and have bristles sufflciently still to remove all adhering into suction conduits 23 and 33 and are discharged in the usual or suitable manner from a power-driven fan (not shown).

Painting mechanism After the removal of all loose particles, the successive courses of shingles are immersed in the paint or other coloring or preserving liquid while the shingles are in continuous motion along the plate I3. This plate is formed with a multiplicity of circular openings I3a which are properly distributed, along and throughout the width of the plate, along the conveyor to permit the escape of the excess liquid from the shingle surfaces. As best shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 7, the paint or other liquid is delivered to the upper surfaces of the shingles in a stream delivered by a nozzle 32 and the lower surfaces are bathed in liquid which is initially supplied from a similar nozzle 33. Liquid in excess of that required to coat each course of shingles is delivered by the nozzles 32 and 33 so that a-pool of the liquid is maintained above the plate I3 and this pool extends for some distance in the direction of travel of the shingles. To insure proper submersion of each course of the shingles in this pool, we provide a series of resilient fingers 34 so distributed across the conveyor that all of the shingles will be engaged and held submerged against their tendency to float on the pool. These fingers are severally fastened at one end to a rod 33 extending horizontally across and above the conveyor, the rod being secured to the side bars I! of the frame. The paint or other liquid is supplied-from a tank 33 mounted at one side of the machine and is continuously drawn from this tank by a motor driven pump 31 having a discharge pipe 33 connected by a branch 39 to an overhead tank 43 and by a branch H to the nozzle 33. The nozzle 32 is supplied with-liquid from the bottom of the tank 43 under control of a valve 42 (Fig. 4) and flow of liquid from the.

nozzle 33 is controlled by a valve 43. The tank 43 has an overflow pipe 44 arranged to return any excess liquid into a strainer 43 which drains into the tank 33. Extending beneath the entire perforated section of the plate I3 is a pan 43 arranged to collect the liquid discharged from the openings I3a and deliver it by gravity to a sump "having a drain pipe 43 discharging into the strainer 43.

After the greater part of the excess liquid has been allowed to drain ofl', the flights of shingles are passed successively between pairs of rotary brushes 43 and 33. These brushes are powerdriven, in the direction indicated by arrows in Fig. 4, by suitable gearing connecting them to the shaft 23. The lower brushes 49 and 33 reach the bottom surfaces of the shingles through openings in the plate I3 and the upper brush of each pair is enclosed in a casing 3|.

In order to secure uniformity in the distribution of paint on the shingles, it is important that the excess liquid be allowed to drain ofl. whereever it tends to accumulate during the substantial period of time required for desirable penetration of the liquid into the shingles. Our arrangement of the openings I3a secures this desirable result" while the elongated plate I3 aflords a smooth paint covered surface in contact with the moving shingles for the desirable time interval for uniform penetration and coating of the bottom as well as the top surfaces of the shingles.

Shingle transfer mechanism After passing between the rotary brushes 33, the wet shingles are delivered to a second conveyor which carries them through a drying chamber 33. At the delivery end of the first conveyor,

:The chains 33 extend horizontally and at a somewhat lower level than the plate I3 as they appreach the roller 32. A table 33 extends between the chains to receive the shingles from the roller 32. To the right of the sprocket wheels 34, as seen in Figs. 5 and 6, the table 33 is formed with a slightly depressed or lower portion 33a which is connected by a short, inclined portion 33b with the elevated part of the table. The table 33 is of such extent as to cause the thin or lap ends of the shingles to be spaced slightly above the portion 33a when they come to rest after falling from the roller 32. While in this position, courses of shingles are successively gripped in the Jaws of conveyor flights hereinafter described and indicated generally by the numeral 31. A fixed cam 33 momentarily opens the jaws to receive the shingles from the table 33.

Second conveyor Details of the conveyor flights 31 are shown in Figs. 9 and 10. Each flight has a pair of hangers 39 which are severally secured to the chains 33 to support a shaft 33 in such position as to extend horizontally and at right angles to the vertical planes in which the chains travel, the shaft 33 being swiveled in the supporting hangers 39. Rigidly secured to the shaft 331s one of the Jaws 3| for gripping the shingles. This jaw extends continuously from side to side of the flight and has an angle bar 32 secured to its upper surface to form a fulcrum for a multiplicity of gripping fingers 33. Each of these fingers has a roughened face for contact with the'shingles and has an integral lever arm 34 projecting obliquely therefrom to support a roller 33. A spring 33 normally retains each finger 33 in the closed or gripping position. To open the fingers. as a group, against the springs 33, a stationary cam 33 is mounted in the path of the rollers 33 at such point that the jaws are held open as each flight approaches the projecting ends of a course of shingles on the table 33. The depressed portion 33a of the table 33 supports the lower jaw H of the flight in such position that it passes beneath the thin ends of the shingles. Courses of shingles are thus gathered successively in the grip of the flight jaws and, as the rollers 33 are carried beyond the cam 33 .the fingers 33 are closed by the springs 33. Continuing around the sprocket wheels 34, the chains 33 and flights 31 carry the shingles into the drying chamber 33, under control and in the pendant positions shown in Figs. 6 and 8. It will be understood that the shingles are gripped only at their thin or lapends, Whichare not visible when in-use, and that the'butt ends'are untouched until the shingles have passed through the drying chamber. I v

I Drying chamber As will be evident from'the foregoing description, the shingles are suspended with their butt ends lower-most while passing through the drier so that such paint asis free to flow tends to accumulate on -these butt ends which will subsequently be exposed to the weather. Thisresults in a desirable increase in the protection affordedby the coating. As shown'in Figs. 5 and 6 and indicated diagrammatically in Fig. -1, the chains 53 carrying the courses of shingles at suitable'intervals are guided upon thesprocket' wheels'lil within the large drying chamber 68 and thence pass in a sinuouspath alternately upward and downwardwithin the chamber wherein a temperature ranging from about 125 to 350 degrees Fahrenheit is maintained for a sufficient period of time to'dry the shingles. Finally the chains pass over sprocket wheels 69 and '10, Fig. l, which carry the flights 51 and'shingles in parallel'relation to a steeply inclined discharge chute 1L.

to allow-the shingles to cool before they are gathered in packages and the rate of cooling may be increased by encl'osingthe conveyor or a portion of it in a chamber which is artificially cooled.

H Conclusion Extensive practical use of the machine has demonstrated that the painted shingles when delivered from the conveyor 13 are sufficiently dry so that they do not adhere to each other when packed together in quantities in bundles or containers.

While the machine is long and the drying chamber has considerable verticalextent, all of the mechanism is 'narrow and a number of the machines may be operated in parallel to increase the rate of production, provide for the simultaneous manufacture of shingles of various colors and reduce labor costs. I

Unusual uniformity and thorough coating with the paint or other liquid is secured by our improved machine "and, its operation being contin-.

uous, rapid and economical, the machine is peculiarly adapted for thequantity production of variously colored, wooden shingles of high quality.-

In the following'claims the term paint is used broadly to include coloring, coating and impregnating liquids, either with or' without pigments.

Having described o'ur inventiomwhat we claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is: 1. In a shingle painting machine, an elongated,

, substantially horizontal, fixed plate arranged to slidably support and engage the shingles, means for applying paint to shingleson said plate, said plate being adapted to retain a coating of paint on its upper surface and formed with a multi of paint.

plicity of perforations to allow the escape of ex cess paint and extending a substantial distance beyond said paint applying means and means for conveyingshingles along said plate to rub the bottom surfaces of the shingles alongsaid paint covered surface while allowing the excess paint to escape from said-surface through said perforations. i

2. In a shingle painting machine,'an elongated,

substantially horizontalQfixed plate arranged to slidablysuppOrtthe shingles, means for supplying "a: pool of paint in the path of shingles on saidplate, said platebeing' adapted to retain a coating of paint on its upper Surface and formed with a multiplicity of perforationsto allow the escape of excess paint and extending a substantial distance beyond said paint applying means and means for conveying shingles along said plateto rub the botto n'surfaces of the shingles alongsaid paint covered surface while allowing the excess paint to escape from said surface through said perforations.

3. In a shingle painting machine, 'a'substantially horizontal plate arranged to slidably support the shingles and to retain a coating of paint onits upper surface, said'plate being formed with a multiplicity of perforations to allow the escape of excess paint, means for applying paint to shingles on said plate, means'for sliding shingles along the coated surface of said plate andmeans for brushing the paint covered faces of the shingles while incontinuous motion along said plate, said brushing means being spaced a substantial distance along said plate'from said paint applying means to allow' a predetermined and substantial time interval for the penetration of the paint preceding the brushing operation.

4. In a shingle painting machine, an elongated, substantially horizontal plate arranged to slidably support-the shingles and'to retain-a coating of paint on its upper surface, said plate'being formed with a multiplicity of perforations to allow the escape of'excess paint, means for applying paint to shingles on said plate, means for conveying shingles along said plate, means for collectingthe excess of paint from said openings and for returning the same to said paint'applying means and means for brushing the faces of shingles while in continuous motion "along said plate, said brushing means being spaced a substanti'al distance alongsaid plate from said paint applying means to allow a predetermined and substantial time interval for thepenetration of the paint preceding the brushingoperation.

5. In a shingle painting machine, an elongated, substantially horizontal support for the shingles,

7 means for supplying a pool of paint in the pathof shingles onsaid support, said support having openingsto allow the escapeof excess paint and extending a substantial distance beyond said paint applying means and a conveyor for moving shingles along said support, said conveyor having a multiplicity of spaced parallel bars movable upon the upper surface of said support to thrust courses of shingles through said pool 6. In 'a shingle painting machine, an elongated, substantially horizontal support for the shingles,

means for supplying a pooh of paint in the path of shingles on said support, a conveyor for moving shingles along said support and through said pool and a plurality of resilient fingers projecting obliquely toward and along said support in the direction of movement of the shingles and into the path 01' the same on said support to submerge them in said pool.

7. In a shingle painting machine, an elongated, substantially horizontal support for the shingles, means for supplying a pool of paintin the path of shingles on said support, said support having openings to allow the escape of excess paint, a conveyor for moving shingles along said support, said conveyor having a multiplicity of spaced parallel bars movable upon the upper surface of said support and each adapted to abut against the rear ends of shingles to move them through said pool of paint and a plurality of fingers arranged to engage the upper faces of shingles in engagement with said bars to submerge the shingles in said pool.

8. A shingle painting machine comprising, a substantially horizontal and elongated way affording a smooth supporting surface for courses of shingles, a conveyor for moving such courses along said way in spaced relation to each other, means for supplying paint in a pool on said way, means for submerging the shingles in said pool while in motion along said way, means for brushing the surfaces of the painted shingles during their passage along said way, a drying chamber, and a second conveyor arranged to receive the shingles from said first mentioned conveyor and to carry the same in said drying chamber, said second conveyor having means for automatically picking up and gripping the successive courses of shingles and being arranged to carry said shingles in a sinuous path through said chamber and to deliver the same in relatively dry condition at an end thereof.

9. A shingle painting machine comprising, a substantially horizontal plate affording a smooth supporting way for courses of shingles, a conveyor for moving such courses along said plate in spaced relation to each other, meansfor supplying paint in a pool on said plate, means for submerging the shingles in said pool, means for brushing the surfaces of said shingles during their passage along said way, a fixed, substantially horizontal support arranged to receive the courses successively from said conveyor, a drying chamber, a second conveyor having means for automatically picking up the successive courses of shingles from said support, said second conveyor being arranged to carry said shingles in a sinuous path through said chamber and to deliver the same in relatively dry condition at an end thereof.

10. In a machine of the class described, a conveyor, means for applying liquid to the surfaces of shingles on said conveyor, a fixed, substantially horizontal support arranged to receive successively from said conveyor courses of the wet shingles, a drying chamber, a second conveyor having a multiplicity of carrier flights, each provided with gripping members for shingles, means for actuating said gripping members to automatically pickup the courses of shingles successively from said support, said second conveyor being arranged to carry the shingles through said chamber and means for discharging the dried shingles from said conveyor and chamber.

11. In a machine of the class described, a fixed, substantially horizontal support arranged to receive courses of wet shingles, a drying chamber, a conveyor having a multiplicity of carrier flights, each provided with gripping members to engage shingles on said support, means for actuating said gripping members to automatically pick up successively the shingles on said support, said conveyor being arranged to carry the shingles through said chamber and means for discharging the dried shingles from said conveyor and chamber.

12. In a machine of the class described, a table, means for delivering courses of wet shingles successively to said table with the ends of the shingles projecting from the table, a drying chamber, a conveyor having a multiplicity of carrier flights, each provided with gripping members, the shingles on said table being in the path of said gripping members, means for actuating said gripping members "J automatically pick up successively the courses of shingles on said table, said conveyor being arranged to carry the shingles in a sinuous path through said chamber and means for discharging the dried shingles from said conveyor and chamber.

13. In a machine of the class described, a conveyor, means for applying liquid to the surfaces of shingles on said conveyor, a drying chamber, a second conveyor disposed to receive the wet shingles from said first mentioned conveyor and having a multiplicity of carrier flights, each provided with members arranged to automatically pick up and grip the shingles, means for actuating said gripping members to grip the wet shingles delivered by said first mentioned conveyor, said second conveyor being arranged to carry the shingles through said chamber, means for actuating said conveyors and means conn cting said conveyors together for synchronizing their movement during the painting and drying oi the shingles.

14. In a machine of the class described, a conveyor having a multiplicity of spaced, shingle pushing bars, means for applying liquid to the surfaces of shingles in engagement with said bars, a drying chamber, a second conveyor having a multiplicity of spaced carrier flights, each provided with gripping members for shingles,

'means for automatically transferring the wet shingles from said first mentioned to said second conveyor including means for actuating said gripping members to pick up the wet shingles delivered by said first mentioned conveyor, said second conveyor being arranged to carry the shingles within said chamber and means connecting said conveyors together for synchronizing their movement.

15. In a machine of the class described, a conveyor having spaced flights for moving courses of shingles in spaced relation to each other along a determined path, means for applying liquid to shingles in engagement with said flights, a drying chamber, a second conveyor having a multiplicity of carrier flights adapted to successively receive the courses of wet shingles delivered by said first mentioned conveyor, mechanical means for transferring the successive courses of shingles from said first mentioned to said second conveyor, said second conveyor being arranged to carry the shingles within said chamber and means connecting said conveyors together for synchronizing their movement.

16. In a machine of the class described, a conveyor having spaced flights for moving courses of shingles in spaced relation to each other along a determined path, means for applying liquid to shingles in motion along said path, a drying chamber, a second conveyor having a multiplicity of carrier flights adapted to successively receive the courses of wet shingles delivered by said first mentioned conveyor, mechanical means for transferring the successive courses of shingles from said first mentioned to said second conveyor, said second conveyor being arranged to carry the shingles within said chamber, power-driven means for continuously moving the flights of both of said conveyors and means connecting said conveyors together for synchronizing their movement.

17. In a machine of the class described, a long, shingle supporting table, a conveyor having spaced flights adapted to severally push courses of shingles in spaced relation to each other along said table, means for applying liquid to shingles on said table, a drying chamber, a second conveyor having a multiplicity of carrier flights adapted to successively receive the courses of wet shingles delivered by said. first mentioned conveyor, mechanical means for transferring the successive courses of shingles from said first mentioned to'said second conveyor, said second conveyor being arranged to carry the shingles within said chamber and means connecting said conveyors together for synchronizing their movement.

KARL M. LEUTE. HERBERT M. LOWRY. 

